Message to state Treasurer Joseph T. Deters from Mary Boyle, his Democratic opponent: "Show us the check!''

At a Statehouse news conference yesterday, Boyle demanded that Deters produce the check received by the Hamilton County Republican Party from jailed Cleveland investment broker Frank Gruttadauria.

Accused of stealing $277 million from clients over 15 years, Gruttadauria reportedly contributed $50,000 to the Hamilton County GOP after meeting with Deters and after Gruttadauria's investment company received millions of dollars worth of state business from Deters' office.

Deters, chairman of the Hamilton County GOP from December 1999 to March 2001, has denied soliciting money from Gruttadauria or that the Hamilton County party was used to launder contributions from investment brokers into his campaign fund. Over 13 months from January 2001, the county party poured $302,000 into the Deters' campaign.

The Gruttadauria contribution went into the Hamilton County GOP operating account, which legally does not have to be disclosed.

"We want to know -- is it a personal check from Gruttadauria?'' Boyle asked. "What exactly is the amount of the check? When was the check written?''

Matthew J. Borges, Deters' campaign spokesman, said Boyle should ask the county party, not Deters, for the check.

"The fact that she's asking Joe to disclose information she knows he doesn't have concerns me,'' Borges said. "Here are the facts: Every campaign-finance law has been fully complied with at all times. Our campaign has disclosed every contribution it ever received.''

-- Joe Hallett

jhallett@dispatch.com

Gun law no issue in attorney general race

A volatile bill moving through the Ohio House that would allow law-abiding citizens to carry concealed weapons apparently will be a non-issue in this year's race for attorney general. The two men vying to become Ohio's chief law-enforcement officer both support, at least in concept, the right to carry hidden guns.

"I support the concept of law-abiding citizens carrying concealed weapons as long as it's done in a safe environment and we have the necessary protections,'' said State Sen. Leigh E. Herington, a Ravenna Democrat.

State Auditor Jim Petro, the Republican candidate for attorney general, said 44 other states have enacted varying forms of concealed-weapons laws and "They really haven't created a public danger.''

He added, "Based upon history around the country, I don't know that it puts law enforcement in any kind of danger.''

But most law-enforcement groups in Ohio oppose the bill, because they fear more guns on the streets could put peace officers at greater risk.

Petro already has been endorsed by the National Rifle Association. Petro denied that the endorsement was swung by House Speaker Larry Householder, his campaign chairman, in exchange for a Householder pledge to the NRA that the concealed-weapons bill would be brought to the House floor for a vote.

Rumors of such a deal were floated months ago by supporters of State Treasurer Joseph T. Deters, who dropped his GOP attorney-general challenge against Petro in December.

"There is no doubt that Larry Householder's help encouraged (the NRA) to endorse me, but I have been assured there was no deal,'' Petro said.

-- Joe Hallett

jhallett@dispatch.com